NOTES from. the plant kingdom // the three-cornered leek
Three-cornered by name, three-cornered by nature, this wild garlic, spring onion alternative appears to be running rampant around gardens and the countryside.
Is it me or is the three-cornered leek, botanically known as Allium triquetrum, running wilder than usual? First introduced to me a few years back by a fellow fan of a wild edible, Nick Vadasz aka #thepickleman (he showed me a lonesome clump in the shade of a tree on Wanstead Flats), I was left under the impression that it was relatively hard to find, in these parts at least.
But this year, it’s more present than a rogue Spanish bluebell, hanging around en masse in front yards, the community garden, roadside verges, and woodland understories. Look and you may find via it’s thin strappy, three-sided leaves, and white harebell-like, six-petalled flowers with green lines down the middle. Smell and you will further identify. A whiff of onion and garlic, leek and chive is the earthy perfume released when leaves are squeezed.
A little bit of research reveals that this allium family member is in fact highly invasive, brought over from the Mediterranean, and given the right conditions can run rampant if unchecked. It clumps around, those long thing leaves crowding everything out. Not good if you’re trying to establish other plants. Further reading reveals that it is illegal to introduce it into the countryside so no rogue planting of this one.
Let’s not dismiss this obviously resilient specimen as just another weed to be whipped out however. You never know when you might need a patch of survival food and the three-cornered leek is one of the tastiest. A whole edible, use leaves and stalks as a leek, spring onion, or wild garlic replacement (albeit milder and sweeter than it’s thicker-leaved counterpart Allisum ursinum) – great finely chopped in an omelette – or add the pretty flowers to a salad.
It’s a low grower though so make sure you wash it first and as with any other wild edibles, ensure you have the right plant. It’s also toxic to dogs so keep them away.